Hey, thank you for the reviews and I'm glad your enjoying it so far. Sorry for the length of time that this chapter took to post. My Beta reader went away for a while so I have to proofread this myself. Now I appreciate her more than ever. But as you know, you miss a few mistakes when you correct your own work so if you see any, let me know.
Forward: I don't own The Psychic Academy, though I wish to open one in the future. The wonderful Katsu Aki does. When her Characters do appear, they will be mentioned in the forward.
Psychic Academy: On the Other Side
Based on the popular manga series by Katsu Aki
By Darkensea
Chapter 7:
The sounds of weight clinging filled the schools weight room. There weren't very many students in the room, but all who were there had their minds set on there work outs and were following through furiously. Xaioto laid on the bench press, struggling through his next set of ten. Myria, one of the weight room assistants was standing by in case he needed help.
"So let me get this strait." She said. "You don't have an offense or a defense. You can't use your aura with out drying your self out and you want to help me by defeating Azural? Are you insane?"
"Not insane. Just... determined." Xaioto replied straining from his work out.
"Why? I didn't ask you to do this for me. This is my place in the school and I have come to accept it. Why go out of your way to try and help me?"
"To see... you smile... again." Xaioto finished his set and replaced the barbell on the rack. He sat up and looked at. Myria. "The person I meet on the roof the other day is not the same one I meet on the train or talking to now. What good is it here if you can't be your self?"
Myria smiled softly. "Your kind hearted nature will get you killed out here. Though it's nice to have some one like you around. I only wish I could talk you more freely."
"Exactly where are the other two 'Defenders'?" Xaioto asked.
"Back at the upper class men dorms. It's the weekend and they still haven't started there homework. Don't worry we won't see them for the rest of the day. What about your two friends? Won't they come looking for you?"
"No, to get the off campus passes we used a while back, they had to give up today to work in the aura lab and infirmary. I got off lucky because I only had to return for some testing this morning."
"So we are both clear for today?" Myria asked.
"It would seem so."
"How bout we take a walk around town?"
"But we can't leave school with out a pass, and seeing its not the first Saturday of the month, and we don't have a good reason."
"We can, we just can't get caught. It would give us a better chance to talk."
"Sure, but how are we going to get out? It's not like they would let us waltz through the front gates."
"Freshmen." Mryia sighed. "Go change into you street clothes and meet me back here in fifteen minutes."
Xaioto returned to the locker rooms, took a quick shower and changed. He checked his back pack to see if he had everything he might need and returned to Myria.
"Give me your hand." She said. Xaioto took Myria's hand and the two of them flickered and vanished.
The warm summer air surrounded them as the sun blazed from above. The air was still and the suns heat could be felt. Xaioto and Myria appeared a few blocks away from the Academy. Myria leaned against the wall to catch her breath while Xaioto looked around.
"So that is how you keep getting away from me? What is that techniques called, and how do you do it?"
"It's know as jumping, a rather advanced technique, so I wouldn't suggest you try it any time soon and with your aura draw back, Jumping might actually kill you." She steadied herself and continued. "So we're walking from here out, until it is time to get back."
"You never did say where we where going in the first place." Xaioto commented. "Any idea on where we are off to."
"There is a beach near here that most of the junior and seniors cut class and head to. Want to try and go there?"
"Sure, let's hope no one else has the same idea as us." Xaioto commented. "If I knew we were heading to the beach I would've of packed a bathing suit."
"Don't worry. We have to pass through the garment district of town we can pick one up there."
The two started walking towards the beach. Talking about school life and auras, enjoying the freedom to be in each others company. It was a freedom they rarely enjoyed, and it was nice to escape the reality of their situation. They arrived at the beach in a short while later and found it complete packed. Families had gathered for their day out, and Myria spotted several other students from the Academy also at the beach.
"You would think the psychic academy would be able to keep track of there students a much better." Xaioto commented.
"Big Brother is always watching." Myria said, pointing toward a large red umbrella not far off. "That's one of my teachers, Enjoying the day off and keeping track of the cutting students. Let's find a clear spot." They continued there walk along the beach looking for a clear spot. Some distance down past a rock jetty, there was a small section of beach sectioned off by rocks. Myria took a seat against the rocks and motioned for Xaioto to join her. Then cast her gaze out over the ocean waves.
"You know," Xaioto started. "Every time I see you alone, you're always looking off through a window or off the roof with your mind lost some where else. What are you always thinking about?"
Myria didn't respond. She continued to start at the ocean her mind lost else where. Xaioto smiled softly and closed his eyes. He did it before, it was unintentuall back then, but maybe now he had a little more control over his aura, he could do it again. He pictured himself gently wrapping his arms around he shoulders and holding her. Umi. He felt his aura extend from him, knowing his attempt was successful when Myria leaned back against his chest drawn back from his aura.
"It so soothing." She whispered. "So comforting... Your aura."
"What were you thinking about?" He whispered in her ear.
"Exactly what you're doing now. So shut up and let me enjoy it." She paused for a moment. "When you first did this to me on the roof I thought you meant it. This feeling stayed with me, your warmth. She closed her eyes and relaxed.
"I did mean it." He replied.
Xaioto started to drift away but returned sharply when Myria bolted up and turned to face him. "Doesn't this drain your aura?"
"It does, but it's worth it." Xaioto replied. "Besides..." He removed the back pack he was carrying and opened it to show her the four large bottles of water her had brought with him. "I came prepared."
"You shouldn't be so careless with your powers. They still aren't sure why your aura drains you, so you shouldn't use it when it isn't necessary."
"And what would be necessary? For classes, to defend myself, or bring joy to the people I care about? All those seem like good reasons to use my aura."
"I'm just saying," Myria replied taken his hands. And pulling him closer to her. "Some of those things don't require your aura." She turned back to face the ocean and pulled his arm around her. "That way you can stay alive to do it again."
Xaioto smiled and pulled her back in to the position they were in before. "I wasn't sure if you would let someone who isn't even a friend get this close." He whispered to her teasingly.
"I don't." She replied with a smile. She paused for another moment than asked. "Are we going to go swimming, or did we pick up those swimming suits for no reason?"
Xaioto laughed softly. "Sure," He released her from his hold and allowed her to get up.
"Well what do we have here?" An unfamiliar voice said. Xaioto turned to see a boy standing on the rocks that blocked them off from the rest of the beach. "Hello little lightning bug."
"Perzo," Myria said, turning to face him. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." He replied. His eyes darted to Xaioto who was still seated on the rocks. "A day out with your boyfriend? He looks kind of young if you ask me."
"Cousin, Perzo. My cousin, new to the academy." Myria responded.
A smirk spread across Perzo face. "So he is a freshman, and I assume he is under your protection as well." He glanced around quickly before glaring at Myria. "However I don't see your boys around, and you know that my bolts are higher ranked than yours. So can your little cousin protect himself?"
"This is foolish fighting." Xaioto said in a low dark tone, opening a bottle of water. "And you know when the others hear about this they won't be happy. Don't start a fight you can finish."
"Well he is oblivious braver than he first appears." Perzo said. "Let's see how he fights."
"My aura eminence is Xaioto Umi Ryokuo." He took a drink from his water bottle and rose from the rocks, placing himself between Myria and Perzo.
"You surely have to be related to Myria," Perzo said. "You seem to have her ignorance in fighting with your superiors. Some would call it courage, but you and I both know it is stupidity."
"Xaioto, what are you doing."
"Waiting for him to walk away. Cause even as dense as he appeared to be he should realize he is out numbered."
"Numbers mean nothing when you reach my rank." Perzo replied. "Here let me show you. Kletra." He said. Pointing at Xaioto.
Xaioto disappeared into a cloud of mist. That rapidity spread until it covered the small area, stopping at the rock jetties and growing thicker. Perzo watched his bolt disappear in to the mist.
"Xaioto are you alright" Myria called in to the mist a hint of concern rising in her voice.
"I'm fine."He replied from next to her. He took another drink from the water bottle. "But I'm going to need your help to get through this. He can't see us giving us the advantage right now. But I don't have an offense. So I need you to be my offense for me."
"But we can't see him either." Myria pointed out. "How does that give us the advantage?"
"Well, since the few weeks I been here I been doing sound training with Moon. I should be able to locate him by sound once he enters the mist."
A lightning bolt cut through the mist connecting with Xaioto's head. The blow knocked him to the ground. Myria knelt beside him. "Xaioto? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine my glasses took the shot. Help me find them before the mist clears." They began searching for his sunglasses in the sand. Suddenly Xaioto stopped and raised his head. "He's entered the mist. Be careful." Myria found his glasses and returned them before they both arose, Xaioto had stopped listening for sounds of Perzo, because something else had attracted his attention. His glasses seemed to be surging with electricity from Perzo bolt, and this had some how allowed him to see what he couldn't normally see. Auras. He could clearly see a bright blue aura emanating from around Myria, and he could also see a dull green one a distance off to their left. The mist prevented him from seeing Perzo but his aura seems to be shining through. He grabbed Myria's wrist and pointed it in a direction. "Now." He whispered to her.
"Ka Riru" Myria said shooting a lighting bolt into the mist. The sound of Perzo groan assured the attack had found its target.
"Now move." Xaioto said watching Perzo prepare for a counter attack.
Grabbing her by the waist and pulling her out the way. One of Perzo bolts stream through the mist at the spot they were standing. The continued in that pattern, Xaioto directing Myria's bolts, then pulling her out of the way of the counter attack. After four more attacks, Mryia said. "I hope he can't take much more, I can't keep this up for much longer."
"Look out." Xaioto said. Pulling Myria behind him. Perzo attack shot from the mist and connected with Xaioto's chest, sending him flying back into Mryia, and back in to the ocean.
Xaioto landed with Myria lying on top of him. His back soaked by the ocean water. Pain seared his chest, and Myria added weight to it didn't seem to be helping. Still he didn't move her. He pulled her closer and whisper. "Salt water conducts electricity. Auras are just energy so it wouldn't work, but a salt water aura should conduct, shouldn't it?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" She replied. Xaioto looked back into the mist and scanned the area. It took hold of her wrist again.
"On my count throw every thing you got at him. Ok?"
"Ok."
He aimed her hands. "One, two, three. Umi."
"Ka Riru."
A spiral stream of electric shot out from both of them. Blowing a path in the mist as it went. Perzo turned just to see the bolt break the mist in front of him and connect with his chest, launching him back up on to the boardwalk of the beach.
Xaioto let out a long sigh. "We did it... we won." He wrapped his arms around Myria, and she returned his embrace.
A fresh wave of water crashed on them soaking there clothes and sending a chill down the backs. The scrambled out of the water and on to the beach.
The sun had begun to set on the beach as Xaioto and Myria lay on the beach drying off. They had change into the bathing suits and set there clothes out on the rock to dry off. They had enjoyed the rest of the day with out incident and spent their time swimming and playing in the water. They now layed in the sand next to each other watching the sun begin to paint the sky orange.
"Its beautiful isn't it, the sunset?" Myria said. "Before I came to the academy, I lived with my father, and the window in my room was facing west. I used to sit in the window every night and watch the sun go down. Its funny how they all are similar, but never the same." She paused. "We should be heading back but, I really don't want to go."
"Don't worry; we will do this again some time." Xaioto replied, "Especially after I set you free from that group."
She smiled softly, and then rolled over till she was resting against him. "I never did thank you for your help with Perzo earlier." She said. "After watching you battle in, I'm sure that Azural will be no problem."
"When that is done, then we can spend more days like this. Something to look forward to."
They packed there things know their day together had come to an end and when they returned to the academy, so will the openness of their friend ship. Lightly taking each others hands they flickered and vanished from the beach.
Xaioto crept silently back in to his room, hoping that Moon was already asleep not to arise suspicions, and was amazed to find it empty. Moon wasn't back yet. He crossed over to the work desk and removed his glasses. Something had happened earlier at the beach that made it easier to win the fight. One of Perzo bolts had reflected off his glass giving them some kind of electromagnetic charge and because the lenses were already polarized, it allowed him to see Perzo aura glowing through the mist. He had read something like that in his home work the night before, but didn't understand what it meant. Photos of auras can usually be taken through a Kirlain Photograph. With the electrostatic energy from the lighting aura, his glasses became like the lenses of an aura camera. He started to draw designs to give a controlled charge of electromagnetic energy to his glasses. By the time Moon returned around midnight his glasses were finished.